STAFF DETAILS

 

Prof. Frik van Niekerk

NWU: Unit for Energy and Technology Systems, Faculty of Engineering
HySA Infrastructure CoC at NWU: Contract Director

Career Summary:  Appointed in senior appointments at the Atomic Energy Corporation, (AEC, now NECSA, 1982 – 1995),  Denel Aviation (1996-1998) and the PBMR (Pebble Bed Modular Reactor) Programme (1998-2000).  Appointed AT the Gesellschaft Für Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) in München, Germany (1985 to1987) as Scientific Collaborator.  Since January 2001 appointed at the former PU for CHE (now North-West University) in various positions:  Vice-rector Technology, Vice Rector: Academic (responsible for the Natural and Health  Sciences, Engineering and Commerce faculties, as well as for Innovation), Executive Director Responsible for Research, Innovation and Community Engagement of the NWU.  Since 2011 DVC:Research, Innovation and Technology of the NWU.

Qualifications

B.Sc. (cum laude, Physics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, 1979),

M.Sc (cum laude, Physics, 1982),

Hons. B.Sc. (cum laude, Applied Mathematics, 1983).

D.Sc. (Reactor Science) in 1990,  PU for CHE (NWU)

Recent Publications

Geertsema, J.C., Van Niekerk, F., Strategies for university improvement: the research profile change at a South African non‑research-intensive university, South African Journal of Higher Education, 2010.

Grobler, W and Van Niekerk, F. 2010.  A proposed Management Framework for Commercialization of Expertise at Public Universities. In Robert J, H(Ed) Innovation Through Knowledge Transfer 2010, Vol 9. Springer Verlag, ISSN 2190-3018.

Bessarabov, D., van Niekerk, F., van der Merwe, F., van Ravenswaay, J., North, B., Mathe, M., Engelbrecht,A., RSA Energy Infrastructure and Road map to Hydrogen, International Conference on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (HFC2011), Vancouver, Canada, May 2011.

van Niekerk, F., van der Merwe, F., van Ravenswaay, J., Bessarabov, D., North, B., Mathe, M., Engelbrecht, A., South African Energy Profile and Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cell Applications,  International Conference on Hydrogen Production, ICH2P-2011 , Greece, June 2011.

Bessarabov, D., Niekerk, F., van der Merwe, F., Vosloo, M., North, B., Mathe, M., Hydrogen Infrastructure within HySA National Program in South Africa: road map and specific needs, oral presentation, WHEC 2012, June 3-7, 2012, Toronto, Canada.

Bessarabov, D., Niekerk, F., van der Merwe, F., Vosloo, M., North, B., Mathe, M., HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA: ROAD MAP AND SPECIFIC NEEDS OF OUR DEVELOPING COUNTRY, oral presentation and paper, in: Proceedings of the International Conference on Hydrogen Production, CD format,  June 24-27, 2012, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Bessarabov, D., Niekerk, F., van der Merwe, F., Vosloo, M., North, B., Mathe, M., Hydrogen Infrastructure within HySA National Program in South Africa: road map and specific needs, Energy Procedia, Volume 29, 2012, Pages 42–52